Brussels / Guatemala, 27/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Strengthening the rule of law, combating the dissemination of light weapons and drug trafficking and continuing regional integration: these are the pillars of stability in the Central-American region, according to a joint press release adopted at the end of the 17th "San Jose" Ministerial Conference in Guatemala on Monday. The EU confirmed its backing for the regional integration process, fully backed by the EU since the 80s, and signed a memorandum of understanding defining the priorities in this field. Ministers also raised aid to El Salvador following the recent earthquakes, and the aid programme to the reconstruction of Central America following Hurricane Mitch in 1998. In the commercial sector, the two parties agreed to set yp a working party on the future system of generalised preferences. Here are the main issues raised in the joint communiqué:
Regional integration: ministers acknowledged the role of the integration process "to achieve sustainable development" and "face the challenges of globalisation". The EU "backed the political decision of the Presidents of Central America of continuing to encourage this process and reaffirmed its commitment to foremost cooperating in the integration of Central America", and the parties stressed the importance of education and training "to develop a culture playing in favour of integration".
On the fringe of th4 meeting, the European Commission and Secretariat of the "Central-American Integration System" signed a "memorandum of understanding" defining the priorities of their cooperation: 1) supporting economic integration; 2) bolstering regional institutions; 3) support by civil society for the integration process. "We are ready to prepare concrete initiatives to support the regional institutions and the development of common policies. But we expect the region to play an active role in presenting programmes and projects that demonstrate the willingness of the region to integrate", Commissioner Chris Patten warned. He did, however, welcome the approach by the Central Americans, who presented regional development projects at the meeting of the "consultative Group" for Central America, in Madrid on 8 and 9 March.
The Central American countries called on the EU Member States to involve the Central-American Economic Integration Bank (CAEIB), financial body of the integration process, and the European Investment Bank (EIB) to strengthen its relations with the CAEIB.
Rule of law: ministers stressed the "overall positive developments" and the "strengthening of the rule of law in the countries of Central America, and the need to continue down that path". The placed emphasis on the strengthening of democratic institutions, the independence of the judiciary, and control bodies and electoral committees. In addition, the EU continues to back democratic institutions in the region "through assistance porgrammes".
Security in the region: Ministers "agreed to give great priority to the fight against the circulation of light weapons, and measures aimed at controlling their supply and dissemination." The undertook to collaborate in the success of the International Conference on light weapons (New York from 9 to 20 July). The EU backed the "concrete initiatives aimed at gathering the destroying light weapons held by civilians, so as to contribute to introducing a culture of peace in Central America.
In addition, "Ministers are satisfied with the outcome secured by Central America in the eradication of anti-personnel mines and call on the international community to continue to support the mine-clearance process "until it can be proclaimed that the Central American region is anti-personnel mine-free". The two parties agreed to continue humanitarian efforts for the re-adaptation of the victims of mines.
Combating drugs: Both parties restated the principle of "co-responsibility" of drug consumer and producer countries defined in 1997, and agreed to define a sub-regional strategy in the context of the priorities of the Panama Global Action Plan, adopted in the context of the coordination and cooperation mechanism relating to drugs between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean. The 3rd meeting of this mechanism will be held in June, in Bolivia.
Trade relations: The Central American countries called on the EU to clarify its intentions concerning the follow-up to be given to the generalised system of preferences that expires in 2004 and must be revised during the year. They hoped the system would be extended for the longest time possible and that the current preferential conditions would be maintained. Mr Patten remarked in his speech that the preferential tariffs granted to the Andean and Central American countries in the context of the GSP is considered unfair by the other Latin American trade partners of the EU, mainly Brazil (see EUROPE of 23d March, p.16).
The aim of the EU is, nonetheless, to assure a stable and predictable system, he said. Both parties decided to set in place a joint technical working group, composed of Commission officials and Central American officials, and which should submit conclusions with a view to the ministerial San José XVIII conference.